Proving once again that people really enjoy free games, Turbine announces that more than a million new players have joined Dungeons & Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited since its re-launch as a free-to-play game last September.

Having just experienced the joys of IHOP's free pancake day, I can personally attest to the fact that things taste better when you don't have to pay for them. Take Dungeons & Dragons Online. Not only have more than a million new players signed up for the massively multiplayer online role-playing game since September, players signing up for the optional paid subscription have more than doubled.

Things are looking up in the game's new DDO store, where players have been buying items and new content at a rate three times higher than industry average, increasing the franchise's revenue more than 500%.

I'd say this is one of the most successful MMO turnarounds in the history of the genre. A few years ago, Dungeons & Dragons Online was floundering, and now, it's flourishing.

"The response from players to DDO Unlimited has been nothing short of phenomenal," said Jim Crowley, president and CEO of Turbine, Inc. "We've known all along how great this game is and by implementing an innovative new model that put the players in charge of how they pay and play DDO Unlimited, we've successfully expanded our reach and injected new energy into the game. Without a doubt, DDO Unlimited is a hit!"

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Well done, Turbine! Lure them in with free pancakes, and they'll stay for the large country fried steak with sausage gravy.